[TV] Get Norman Bates’ Manga Sketchbook Here (Whatever That Means)

I still havent’ gotten around to A&E’s premiere episode of “Bates Motel,” yet (I was pulled away from it right as I was starting) so I’m going to have to take the official word on this one.

“For those that are still catching up on the series Norman Bates discovers a sketchbook hidden underneath the carpeting in one of the rooms at the Bates Motel. Inside, he finds Chinese writing and manga sketches, immediately becoming captivated by the drawings. Norman, along with his classmate and friend Emma Decody, begin to dig deeper into the story behind the sketches and stumble upon a bigger mystery than either of them could have imagined. As the season unfolds, more characters from the manga are introduced and more secrets exposed; this book is the story of one of those characters.”

A&E’s “Bates Motel,” from executive producers Carlton Cuse (“Lost”) and Kerry Ehrin (“Friday Night Lights”), is a contemporary prequel to the genre-defining film Psycho and promises to give viewers an intimate portrayal of how Norman Bates’ psyche unravels through his teenage years. Fans will have access to the dark, twisted backstory of Norman Bates and how deeply intricate his relationship with his mother, Norma, truly is.

You can grab the book for free on iTunes right now. “Bates Motel” airs on A&E Mondays @ 10/9c.